Switch mechanism



Sept. 23, 1930. V, R DESPARD 1,776,581

swITcH MECHANISM Flled Aug. 2. 1926 PatentedA Sept. 2 3, 1930 )UNITED usTA'll-:s PATENT OFFICE vIOroa n.' nEsPAnD, or VALPARAISO, INDIANA, 'AssIGNon 'ro MQGILI. IIIAIIUI'AGIUI:F ING COMPANY, or VALPARAISO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OP INDIANA swIrciI MECIIANISII Application filed-August l2, 1926. Serial No. 126,689.

My invention relates to electric switch mechanisms and has for its object the provision of a switch mechanism vwhich is adapted to effect the control of a plurality of circuits. More specifically, my invention is an imgrovement over my copending application erial N o. 62,833, ent No. 1,669,372. .In my said copending application I set forth a switch structure in which a pair of movable switch contacts, in-

sulated one from the other, are adapted to'effect a plurality of circuit changes. In that particular application, is designed `to bring about a series parallel switching arrangement between a source of current supply and a plurality of translating evices. n constructing a switch'l mechanism of ythat character I find it diiiicult to bring about the all times between the movable switch elements and the stationary. switch element. 'This is due primarily to the fact that the movable switch elements are ixedly mounted upon a carrier and for this reason effective Contact is sometimes diiiicult to obtain because four connecting portions of the two vmovable `contacts are-required to make a circuit connection at the same time. This 'difficulty is due to the fact that either the stationary contacts or the movable contacts are rnot at the proper level. It is impossible to bring about an absolutely perfect alignmentv OJ the parts in actual practice and this would be necessary :in order to have a four-point element in condition to make perfect contact at the four Contact and the same time.

My invention is designed to overcome this objectionable feature by providing a struccontacts between theparts ture in which the are at all times insured without the necessity of such extreme accuracy in the manufacture.

. My present invention, while overcoming this objectionable feature is,-of course, not limited in its scope to the limitationy of this objectionable feature merely in switches ,or devices of the kind specified herein or in my copending application but has obviously a wider application.

I will describe one form which inven-A fled October 16, 1925, Patthe switch mechanism most effective circuit connection at points or surfaces at one nism . circuit closure,

` panying drawing in Which- Flg. 11s a sectional view of a switch structure constructed `in accordance withmy invention; l

2 is a sectional' View on line 2--2 of ig. 3 is an enlarged developedwiew of the runway for the movable switch element;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4 of Fig. 1; i l

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable circuit elements and their carrier; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line 6 6 of Flg. 5.

In these figures, I have illustrated my linvention as applied to a switch of the character set forth in my said copen'ding application without, of course, intending thereby to limit the scope of my invention.' This switch is designed so that'two movablev Contact elet tacts 'suchas the contacts 13 and 14, and the like mountedjin a suitable circular runway 15. The arrangement is such that the contact ment 10 and the contact making portions 18 and 19 of the switch element 11 ride over these stationary Contact elements such as the. elements R13 and 14 in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 3. It will be apparent that the contactlmaking portions 16, 17, 18 and 19'may ride upon one element 14 for instance, and then drop by snap action over the top portion of the element 14 onto thelower portions of the element 13. f

Suitable means are provided-on rotating the carrier 12, these means having recoil mechaso that the reverse rotation of the carrier 12 is prevented. It willbe apparent that it is necessary, under Certain conditions of that all of the parts 16, 17, 18 and 19 make Contact at one and the same timeand in order to insure such contact I loosely mount the/contact-elements 10 and 11 upon their carrier 12. This I do by providing holes in the switch elements 10 and 11, such as the hole 20, corre onding to the hole v 21 in the carrier 12. hen fasten the two Vmaking elementsl and 17 of the switch elethe parts'A to that degree 'engage the contact segments such as the segments 13 and 24.

l have given the reference numerals 23, 24, and 26 to the remaining contact segments which are placed about the runway 15. lt will be seen that by virtue of this construction and mounting of the switch element that l am at all times assured of adequate contact between the corresponding switch element such as the e pressing the pawl 35 to switch element 10 or the switch element 11 and the cooperating contact segments with which it may at any particular time be designed to be in contac The carrier 12 may occupy six different positions as illustrated,

there being six resting points along the runway 15 as will be clear from inspection of Figs.2 and 3. The carrier 12 loosely lies within the casing 27 for the switch with the exception that it is acted upon by a nger piece 28 fitting into the hole 29 through the agency ofwhich the said carrier 12 is rotated,

. the hole 29, as is more clearlyapparent from Figs. 2 and 5, flares toward both extremities toward its center so that the finger 28 may adjust itself in a slight angular manner within said hole without thereby moving the carrier 12. f

The carrier 12 is further pressed into its lowermost position by a spring 29, which spring presses against a washer 30 interposed between said spring andthe carrier 12. The finger 28'is controlled by the rotatable manually controlled finger piece 31 suitably held in -position on the finger 28by thescrew-32. The finger 28 has a shoulder 33 and said finger also has a slot 34 in which a pawl 35 rides, this pawl being integral with a loosely mounted collar 36 slidable along the circular upper portion ofthe linger 28. The pawl rides in the slot 34 andthe free extremity `of the spring 29 presses against the collar 36, thus the right (Fig.4 1). The finger piece 31 has a pair ofslots which engage. the pawls 35 to move it in a clockwise direction, but the pawl having the inclined surface will not move should the fing r piece 31 be moved in a counterclockwise d1rection leftagainst the action of the spring 29. The carrier 12 is therefore moved only in the direction of rotation, the lratchet mechanism justv described preventing the finger piece 31 from rotating in the op- 'posite direction.

From what has been described, the nature o'my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and having thus de- 65f' scribed one form whichV my invention may vlQlldg-ing contacting' contacts, a pair arrasar Y take, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. A device `of the character described comprising a pluralityy of `relatively stationary contacts, a pair of relatively movable elements, each of said elements being adapted to at times establish contact between two of said contacts and both of said elements adapted to engage all of said contacts, a single carrier for said ele` ments, and means for loosely positiogi said elements upon said carrier so as to permit rocking movement therebetween.

2. A device of the character described'comprising a plurality otrelatively stationary contacts, ing contacting elements, each of said elements being adapted to at times establish contact between two of said contacts, a single carrier for said elements, means for loosely positioning said elements upon said carrier, means for actuating said carrier, and a ratchet interposed between said last aforesaid nieans and said carrier.

3. A device of the character described com-` said contacts, a single carrier for said element, means for loosely positioning said elements upon said carrier, 'means for actuating said carrier, tween said last aforesaid means and sai Y CRII'IGI.

a pair of relatively movable bridg- ,y

rotatable bridging contacting y l and a ratchet interposed bed 10o 4. .A device of the character 'described coml prising a plurality of relatively stationary of relatively movable bridging contacting elements,each of said elements being adapted to at times establish contact between two of said'contacts, a single carrier for said elements, and a clamping ring for loosely positioning said elements upon said carrier.

5. A device of the character' described comprising a plurality of relatively stationary contacts arranged in a circular path, a pair of relatively rotatable bridging contacting elements, each of said elements to at times establish contact between two of said contacts, a single ments, anda clamping ring for loosely positioning said elements upon said carrier.

6.. A'- device of the character described comprising a plurality ofvrelatively statio ary contacts, a pair of relatively movable bridging contacting elements, each of said being adapted carrier for said elefor loosely positioning said elements upon r said carrier, means for lactuating said carrier, and a ratchet interposed between said last aforesaid means and sald carrier.

7. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of relatively stationary contactsfarranged in a circular path, a pair of relatively rotatable bridgin contacting 5 elements, each of said elements eing adapted to at times establish contact between two of said contacts, a single carrier for said element, a clamping ring for loosely positioning said elements upon said carrier, means for actuating said carrieryand a ratchet nterposed between said last aforesaid means and said carrier.

In witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe my name this 10th day of Jul A. D. 1926.

VICTOR R. ESPARD. 

